ACC Football 2011: 5 Games That Will Determine the Season

With the start of the college football season now mere days away, it's time to discuss the 2011 ACC Championship Game and look at the matchups that will determine who makes it to Charlotte.

With the Virginia Tech Hokies and Florida State Seminoles the heavy favorites in their respective divisions, most of this year's biggest games will revolve around them.

With that in mind, here are the five games that will decide who plays for the ACC title this season.

Virginia Tech Hokies vs the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Nov. 10th

With the Miami Hurricanes and North Carolina Tarheels dealing with major violations and new head coaches, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets may present the biggest challenge for the Virginia Tech Hokies in the Coastal Division.

Any fan of either school can tell you that the Hokies have struggled mightily with Georgia Tech since Paul Johnson introduced the triple option.

This season the Hokies have to travel to face the Yellow Jackets. While Georgia Tech is expected to be down this season, with a revamped defensive line and a new quarterback in Logan Thomas, it's still to be seen how good this Virginia Tech team will be.

This game has decided the Coastal Division Champion each year since the inception of the ACC Championship game. I don't see why this year should be any different.

North Carolina State Wolfpack vs the Florida State Seminoles on Oct. 29th

This will be the game to watch in the Atlantic Division in 2011.

The Florida State Seminoles, the conference favorite, will look to avenge last year's loss to the North Carolina State Wolfpack.

This year's game will provide different looks for both teams at quarterback, with All-ACC performer Russel Wilson replaced by Mike Glennon and now-Minnesota Viking Christian Ponder replaced by EJ Manuel.

This meeting comes in the middle of a tough stretch for Florida State, as they host the Maryland Terrapins the week before and have to travel to face the Boston College Eagles that Thursday.

Miami Hurricanes vs the Virginia Tech Hokies on Oct. 8th

From about 1995-2003, it seemed that whoever won this game won the Big East each and every year.

Things have not quite been the same in the ACC. The Miami Hurricanes program has fallen apart, with major violations now threatening the life of the program.

Still, the Hurricanes have plenty of talent, and therefore they will have the capability to win any game they play. Coach Al Golden will just have to find a way to get his players motivated (with a likely ban against postseason play).

Even if Miami is disallowed from ACC Championship contention, they still present the toughest opponent for the Virginia Tech Hokies in 2011.

Florida State Seminoles vs the Clemson Tigers on Sept. 24th

Though the North Carolina State Wolfpack present the biggest challenge, this is a huge trap game for the Florida State Seminoles.

The Seminoles have to travel to Death Valley to face the Clemson Tigers a week after their huge matchup with the Oklahoma Sooners.

If Florida State is to lose the Atlantic Division, I have to imagine this would be the game that would do it. Clemson has to replace several players on both sides of the ball, but they still have talent with guys like Tajh Boyd and Andre Ellington.

Death Valley is always a tough place to visit, and the Seminoles will likely be deflated coming off their biggest game of the season. Clemson could surprise them.

Boston College Eagles vs the Virginia Tech Hokies on Oct. 22nd

The Boston College Eagles and Virginia Tech Hokies have formed a bit of a rivalry since they both moved to the ACC. After the Thursday night beating in 2006, the Matt Ryan heart-breaker in 2007 and the two ACC Championship games, these teams have gotten to know each other well.

Boston College is coming off a nice season in which they bounced back from a 2-5 start to finish the season 7-6. They return Montel Harris and Luke Kuechly, among others.

The Virginia Tech Hokies have struggled recently against the Eagles. This game could have huge implications in the ACC division races, with the Hokies the favorite in the Coastal and Boston College a sleeper in the Atlantic Division.